In Mainstream Ethics (ética corriente) Tato Laviera explores the geographic and linguistic imperatives of Hispanics in the United States. Whereas in the past Laviera redirected Hispanics to invest culture and emotion in the reality of the Metropolis, in Mainstream Ethics he affirms that Hispanic language and lore, art and history are transforming the national culture and identity of the United States. It is not the role of Hispanics to follow the dictates of a shadowy norm, an illusive main stream, but to remain faithful to their collective and individual identities… to either lay claim to mainstream territory or disprove its very existence.
“Tato Laviera is a bilingual poet of the people, for the people, a poet of selfhood, sensuousness and life, of critical sanity, humaneness, warmth and triumphant joy. Above all, he is a poet of love and respect.” -Wolfgang Binder
JESUS “TATO” LAVIERA (1950-2013) was a poet, playwright, novelist and community advocate. Born in Puerto Rico, he was raised in the Manhattan’s Lower East Side, or Loisaida. He is generally acknowledged to be the best selling Hispanic poet in the United States. He performed his works all over the U.S., the Caribbean, Europe and Africa. His books include La Carreta Made a U-Turn; Enclave, winner of the American Book Award; AmeRícan; Mainstream Ethics; and Mixturao and Other Poems, and Bendición: The Complete Poetry of Tato Laviera, all published by Arte Público Press. His plays have been produced in Chicago and New York City, and have been staged at The New Federal Theater, The Public Theater, the Delcourt Theatre in Central Park, Circle in the Square, and Theatro Cuatro.
